Photos by Lali Miramon / TIMES STAFF

Two cross country long-distance runners from San Jose City College moved on to the California Community College Cross Country Championships.

The championships were set for Nov. 17 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif.

The runners also participated in the Northern California Community College Championships on Nov. 3 at the Crystal Springs Course in Belmont, Calif.

Kristina Vasquez, 20, ran a three-mile course in 20:55 minutes and finished in 32nd place out of 86 runners.

Cm April, 21, ran a five-mile course in 22:42 minutes and finished in a 32nd place out of 100 runners.

“Both athletes have the mind set to be successful,” said SJCC Cross Country & Track head coach David Flynn.

This is Vasquez’s second year on the team and also her second year making it to the state championships.

“My first year at SJCC I also advanced to state championships and received the Athlete of the Year award from Associated Students at SJCC,” Vasquez said. “This season was harder for me to get mentally prepared and improve from last season.”

Vasquez made an improvement compared to her earlier two runs of the season and tied her personal best at the Northern California State Championships.

“I ran my first mile in 6:21, which was 28 seconds faster than my coast conference meet,” Vasquez said. “Staying reserved during my second mile gave me more energy for my third mile to pick up the pace and finish my best time of the season.”

April also made a major time improvement from last week’s race at the conference championships.

Running more conservatively and running his first mile in 5:16 instead of a 5:03, April smashed it the last two miles.

“It is exciting because I used a new strategy,” April said. “I’m starting to find where my strengths and weaknesses are and how I can make things fall into place to run a faster race.”

“Making the state meet is not about just doing the work in the fall semester,” said Flynn. “CM put in 1000 miles in 100 days in the summer while still carrying his summer load of classes.”

At the Northern California State Championships, April also ended up running a personal best by 23 seconds faster than previous runs.

“Living the athletes’ lifestyle is not an easy path,” Flynn said. “Their commitment, hard work and follow through is what came out in the championships.”

To see a complete list of results for Northern California State Championships, visit: http://directathletics.com/results/xc/3723.html

April and Vasquez will also participate during the spring 2013 track and field season.